Perfection’s Reflection: Influencers on Bodybuilder Behavior

Perfection’s Reflection: Influencers on Bodybuilder Behavior is an honors thesis project that provides insight on the impact of influencers and may be a value to those who wish to be influential to competitive bodybuilders. Six current and former competitive bodybuilders explained the impact of influencers in seven key themes: 1.) Body dissatisfaction, 2.) Inspiration, 3.) Imitation, 4.) Motivation, 5.) Skepticism and distrust, 6.) Information, and 7.) Avoidance. These seven key themes were identified throughout three stages of the bodybuilders’ journeys, “The Beginning,” during their early childhood to high school years, “The Middle,” the start of their bodybuilding careers, and “The End,” the present day. It is concluded that influencers may impact competitive bodybuilders differently based on the stage of their journeys and to be influential, one should provide the ideal impact based on bodybuilders’ stage of their journeys.